Jesca Kiplagat’s 10-Year Journey of Pain, Betrayal, and Triumph After Major Morrell’s Death in Military Helicopter Crash
By Kelvin Kibet
Ten years ago, Major Morrell, a decorated Kenyan military officer, tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash that left nothing behind but ashes and a legacy. But what should have been a period of mourning and unity quickly turned into a devastating battle for recognition, dignity, and justice, especially for Jesca Kiplagat and her only son.
Instead of compassion and solidarity, Jesca faced hostility from the very people who should have stood by her.
Betrayed at the Burial: “They Treated Us Like Strangers”
“You were barely gone, yet they erased us from your life,” Jesca painfully writes.
At the funeral, Jesca and her son were not only left out of the eulogy and obituary but were also publicly humiliated and accused of causing Major Morrell’s death. Shockingly, the family openly supported another woman — his alleged “mpango wa kando” — and chased Jesca and her child away like unwanted guests.
This betrayal ran deep. Some members of Major Morrell’s military circle stood by Jesca, but others chose silence or sided with the false narrative pushed by the family. The pain was not just emotional it was institutional.
A Fight Against Disinheritance and Forged Documents
The family’s intentions became clear: they wanted to disinherit Major Morrell’s only biological child. Working together with the “mpango,” they filed fake documents to try and secure compensation and benefits meant for Jesca’s son.
“They did everything possible to wipe us from your legacy fabricated documents, lies in court, and public humiliation.”
But Jesca wasn’t going down without a fight.
Jesca’s Legal Journey: Walking the Halls of Milimani Court
Jesca’s fight for justice took her through years of emotionally draining court battles at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi. She spent hours and days walking the dusty hallways, filing documents, meeting lawyers, and appearing before judges. She fought not just for what was rightfully hers and her son’s, but for truth and dignity.
“You do not want to know how long I walked in the halls of Milimani Court… But God stood with us. Justice was served.”
Despite the odds, she won. Jesca’s persistence defeated the lies. The court acknowledged her son as the legitimate heir, overturning the malicious schemes of those who once shared a home and bloodline with Major Morrell.
A Decade Later: Triumph, Growth, and Healing
Ten years after being cast aside, Jesca Kiplagat has risen with grace and strength. She has built a new life for herself and her son. He is now 18 years old, healthy, well-educated, and preparing to join Daystar University—one of the top Christian universities in Kenya.
They’ve moved into a new home Jesca built herself, a place of safety and healing. No member of Major Morrell’s family has ever checked on the boy—not during school, illness, or even his initiation to adulthood. But they survived. And thrived.
Honoring a Fallen Hero: “Keep Resting in Peace, My Wingman”
Though betrayed by his family, Jesca has never stopped honoring Major Morrell’s memory. Her tribute is filled with pain but also love—a deep reminder that not all battles are fought on the battlefield.
“Keep resting in peace, my wingman, Major Morrell. You are never forgotten.”
Jesca Kiplagat: A Voice for Women and Justice in Kenya
In 2022, Jesca boldly ran for the Senator seat in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Though unsuccessful, her campaign reflected her resilience, her service, and her rising role as a voice for the marginalized women and single mothers across Kenya.
